Sunday 20th June: Cartagena to Torre de la Horadada
We woke to lovely warm sunshine and we were up and about at 7.30am, putting the final pieces away, and we were ready to slip our lines at 11.10am. We have been in Cartagena since October (8 months!) and we are very much looking forward to reaching the Balearics
We were sad but excited to start our travels again and friends came round to our pontoon to wave us off. We will miss them but we know we will see them later in October.
We exited the harbour and met a nasty chop. We were NOT expecting this. It grew to a nasty mess of 3 metres from all directions. It was like being in a washing machine! It was AWFUL! After approx 2 hours of this, we actually discussed turning back. Rob said that the sea should be calmer past the point, so we continued on, rather than face the 2 hours or so of going back through it. We turned the corner and passed Cabo del Palos and it was like a lake! What a difference! Rob put out our Genoa and we sailed the rest of the way just on this sail. I eventually surfaced from the cabin to join Rob above decks and Jack recovered in his cabin. Poor Hoopla, though, the main cabin was trashed! Books, cushions and the contents of our fruit bowl were all over the floor! What a first passage that was after 8 months of non-travelling! Rob did really well getting us through that!
Continuing on, we had some lovely views of the La Manga Strip as we sailed past. Stunning.
It was quite windy, so we approached the marina entrance carefully and we saw a row of bouys in a line in the middle of the channel. Strange. We stayed close to the port side marker (as we’d seen a couple of other boats in front do this) and watched the depth get shallower and shallower! Rob had read that it should have been between 2 & 3 meters but it quickly went to one and we brought up our keel immediately! We met the really friendly and helpful marineros who guided us to the first berth, which was alongside. We were expecting to go in ‘bows to’ (as is the Mediterranean way) so we were not prepared! Luckily, they had lines (ropes) already on the pontoon, so we could use them first and then eventually replace with our own lines. Jack did well, receiving a line, feeding it through and cleeting it off. Rob switched the engine off at about 6pm.
WE HAVE ARRIVED! Our 1st passage of the season completed – and what a passage that was!!!
We all walked ashore and found a cafe for some liquid refreshments We made it!
Rob and I walked to the beach next door (yay!) while Jack returned to Hoopla and plugged us in. Rob went in for a swim and I had a quick paddle. I was really pleasantly surprised by how warm the sea was! I might even go in myself tomorrow!
Back on board and Rob did us a lovely roast chicken for tea. All in all, a very nice end to the day.
21st June: Torre de la Horadada
Such a peaceful marina! we woke up to hear the birds singing! Lovely.
After breakfast, Rob went to the marina office and checked us in (presenting our ships papers, our passports and to pay; €22 per night) while I did a quick tidy up and started to pack a rucksack for the day. We are off to see the flamingos. We need our swimwear too for later! How exciting! The loos here, though, are not brilliant! It’s not the marina’s fault but it would appear that the loos are shared with the general public, and we all know that their cleanliness sometimes leaves a lot to be desired. There were two ladies cubicles and one was ‘out of order’ same for the gents too. Sad. But, we were ready to leave at 11am and so we made tracks. We followed the main road out and then a path beside the sea. This is such a pretty town. We stopped off at a lovely cafe for lunch (they even had a GF burger bun) and continued on our walk. And then we saw them! Tiny little pink & white things in the distance. We followed the path around until we came across a hide. We saw one fly overhead and its colours were amazing but the others were a little too far away – but we could see them! How fantastic is that! I hope to see them a little nearer when were are in Calpe. After a while, we started to head back. We stopped off at the beach and all 3 of us (yes, me too!) went in for a dip. The sea wasn’t as warm as yesterday and there were stones but the swim was good. After, Jack headed back to Hoopla, while Rob & I stayed on the beach for a little while longer. We stopped off for an ice cream, beer and sangria before heading back ourselves.
I quickly washed my hair as it was all yuck from the sail yesterday and the swim earlier. I had to use the pontoon water and the hosepipe as the showers were locked. Then I rinsed our swimwear in fresh water on the pontoon, to save our water. Rob, meanwhile, topped up our water tanks and refilled our water Gerry cans. These had leaked out during our passage yesterday and were empty. Rob found out that their lids leak, which was most disappointing. They now have to be stored upright and so cannot go back to their original place. Rob secured them to our guard rail and we hope that they will be ok. We need to save our water as we are anchoring in a bay for the next 5 days.
We saw that the channel entrance is being dredged, which is desperately needed!
We had left over roast chicken for tea, with jacket potato and salad. Very nice too. We planned our journey for tomorrow and would like to be leaving here at 9am. Philippe and the crew on Dranack had a better journey today than we did yesterday. They left Cartagena and stayed in a marina about 10 nautical miles behind us. They were our neighbours in Cartagena and we look forward to seeing them tomorrow in the anchorage. We turned in just after midnight, feeling shattered after the days walk but happy. Goodnight all
22nd June: Torre de la Horadada to El Campello
Rob and I woke at 7.30 and were having breakfast at 9am. We did the final preparations for Hoopla and we slipped our lines at 10am. At the same time, we received a WhatsApp msg that Dranack was sailing past, 3NM off shore. The channel was being dredged so there really wasn’t much room but we squeezed past without any problems. We met a very nice, calm sea, so much better than Sunday’s! There was hardly any wind to start with but it picked up and, by 1pm, we had both of her sails out. A couple of dolphins even joined us for a minute or two! It was so wonderful to see them and here’s hoping we see more soon
Rob helmed all the way, with me taking over when needed. Jack spent the majority of the time in his cabin, popping up deck a few times. The bimini did a great job of keeping our cockpit shady and we watched the Spanish coastline slide past. We could see Dranacks white sails in the distance.
The final hour or so was a bit of a rolly sea, nothing like Sunday, but uncomfortable neither-the-less. Our fruit bowl took another tumble! We were headed for an anchorage in a very sheltered bay/cove. The winds had dropped and so we switched on the engine, to keep a minimum of 5 knots. We caught Dranack up as they had continued to sail – but it was always the plan that we go in first, to see if the bay is suitable (as we have a lift-up keel). Unfortunately, a motor boat had anchored right in the entrance, which made it tricky to manoeuvre around. The bay was much smaller (and shallower) than we thought it would be, so it was decided to stay at the nearest marina instead. Philippe contacted them by radio and they had room for both of us. As we made our way over, we saw the motor boat leave the bay. Sigh. But, it wouldn’t have been a suitable anchorage for us anyway.
Dranack was given a berth and we were given the ‘waiting pontoon’ for the night, which meant no electricity or water supply for us. We were moored up (again, unexpectedly side-to) by 7pm. Checking in took AGES (€39 per night) as they had to register Hoopla (and Dranack) but then we had our tea and was at the bar with the crew of Dranack at 9pm. The teenagers had found a skateboard park and headed off. A very pleasant evening was had by all!
We were all back on board by 11.30, all agreeing that nobody will need any rocking tonight.
23rd to 25th June: El Campello
Oh what a lovely marina! At 11am, we were given a berth and so we moved Hoopla from the waiting pontoon to D13. Bows-to (front first) this time, and we picked up a slime line (yuck). Rob plugged us in and he sorted out our passerelle (gangplank) so we could get on and off Hoopla. I got the hang of using the passarelle off the bows quite quickly. We were given a key for the pontoon gate and loos (with separate showers) for a returnable deposit of €30. These were lovely and clean.
Rob and I then read/dozed in the cockpit for a few hours (lovely) while Jack was at the skateboard park.
Rob & I walked to the beach next door later in the afternoon and we both went swimming! I actually went under the water! I have a pair of prescription goggles and they were fab! I’ve not used them, though, in 3 years hahhaha! We then had the obligatory drink at the bar on our way back to Hoopla. Repeat the beach, swim and drink for the next two days!
At night, we can hear, very clearly, the popping sound of the shrimps! They sound like the popping of plastic bubble wrap! Google it, you will be amazed. Apparently, the shrimps snap their large claw, stunning their prey and we hear it through the hull. We haven’t heard it for a while and it made us smile.
We don’t have a WiFi code, though they keep promising us one! We are OK using our mobile data, it’s just a pain.
We’ve had such a lovely time here, a very nice and much needed break after our two passages.
Rob invited the crew of Dranack over for a meal on our last evening (he made a lovely chicken curry) & Philippe made a delicious, rich, chocolate moose! What a fantastic evening we had! We discussed our route for the next day, to Cala Sardinera, and we planned to leave at 9am. We can’t leave any earlier, as that’s when the office opens and we need to return our key – and receive our deposit back.
26th June: El Campello to Cala Sardinera
After much faffing getting Hoopla ready, we eventually popped to the office to return our key and to receive our €30 deposit. We then, finally, slipped our lines at 9.45 (Dranack at 9am).
There wasn’t any wind but there was a fairly large swell. Yuck! But I guess we were body surfing in these waves yesterday hahaha.
The swell died down when we rounded the point and Rob put the sails out! We followed the stupendous coastline and we saw two waterfalls! Rob saw a flying fish too!
Rob and I shared the helm with Tilly (our autohelm) and Jack spent most of this passage in his cabin. He did pop up to us in the cockpit a few times though.
Dranack left the marina before us and so arrived at the chosen anchorage first – and reported back that it was, in fact, too exposed and has a nasty, choppy sea. Philippe and Rob made some suggestions and Philippe said that Cala Sardinera is perfect! We went through the choppy sea – BUT our fruit bowl stayed on the table this time! We arrived at the anchorage and moored alongside Dranack at 5.45pm, while we waited for a bouy to become free. We didn’t have to wait too long before the motor boats started to leave. We managed to pick up a bouy nearer the shore and we decided to go for a swim! Rob jumped in but I climbed down the ladder hahhaha! We had lots of little fishes by Hoopla! Mainly little silver ones (as big as your hand) with a black ring by its tail. Rob started to clean our propeller with a plastic scraper and they became very interested in what he was doing! Yum yum! I swam around Hoopla twice and then called it a day. The sea was so clear! It was lovely to see all the fishes and the posidonia weed. I would love to sort out a snorkel!
Rob cooked us a nice dinner, after which we looked at our route for tomorrow before turning in. Tomorrow night, after a 10 hour journey, we will be in the Balearics! Yay! We are heading for Cala Tarida in ibiza…..
27th June: Cala Sardinera (mainland Spain) to Cala Roja (Ibiza) !
The alarm was set for 6.30am as we were to leave at 7.30 – and we actually left at 7.45 (not bad!). Dranack left at 7am. We slipped our bouy without any problems and made our way out of the bay to a nice, smooth, calm sea.
We had no wind until 10am, when it picked up enough for Rob to put out our sails and we sailed the rest of the way! Rob and I helmed alternate hours as the wind was a little too strong for Tilly. I received a good upper body workout hahhaha! Jack joined us in the cockpit for most of the crossing and it was nice to have his company.
Dranack was an hour in front, so they reached our destination first and said it wasn’t suitable. Hmm. Neither was the following one Double Hmm! At 5.30pm, we (Hoopla) had a look at Cala Comte and thought it was really good here. It was calm and there was plenty of space. We were all very excited (especially Jack) to see the oh-so-clear turquoise sea! It was unbelievably pretty! The crew of Dranack also agreed and so dropped their anchor too. An hour or so later, though, we both decided to move because of the swell
We literally went to the bay next door; Cala Roja! It was empty apart from a few motor boats, who left shortly after, and it was roll-less! We dropped our hook and settled in for the night. Rob, Jack and Sean all went swimming, followed by dinner. Philippe and Fabienne rowed over to us for a beer and to toast our safe arrival.
When we turned in, I was pleased to note that we are still hearing the popping shrimps…
